When you sign a player for £59.7m, you expect them to have a major impact at your club. You expect them to hit the ground running and produce the goods again and again. That’s why they’re paid the big bucks, right?
When Angel Di Maria first arrived at Old Trafford he looked ready to do exactly that. He got off the mark quickly and looked fresh and invigorated leading the Manchester United attack. He looked like a major improvement over wingers like Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Nani.
But since the thrill of the ‘new’ has worn off, he’s started to look distinctly less impressive. Sure, he’s capable of the occasional good moment, but he’s also inconsistent. There are entire periods of games where he goes missing and fails to influence things in any meaningful way.
The problem, I’d argue, is not with the player, but with his mammoth price-tag. There’s a lot of expectation on him. Too much in fact.
It also looks like he’s struggling to fit in at his new club. Check out these comments, from when he was asked whether he was enjoying his stay in Manchester: ‘Very well. The weather is the only thing… it doesn’t help a lot. But I’m very content here. The people have a lot of affection for me, which is the most important thing. It’s what I value most, and I have that here.’
He also spoke about how he was struggling to learn English: ‘It’s very bad’.
Interestingly, he also spoke out about his plans for life after Manchester United: ‘The next step will be to return to Rosario Central, another giant of the game! Now I’m with another massive club in Manchester United. When I finish here, I think it might be time to return to Argentina. Hopefully that happens.’ (Source: The Metro)
It surprises me that he’s already thinking about life after Old Trafford. Isn’t it too early for that? Is he completely satisfied by his current playing situation? It’s hard to tell at the moment.
His on the pitch displays can look somewhat disinterested. Sure, he’s always capable of moments of magic and he’s a wonderful crosser, but fans want to see more than that. They want to see a player who really cares.
I’m not sure that they have that in Angel Di Maria.
What’s your take? Is Di Maria passionate enough to make a major impact in the Premier League?
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